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the aim of Government to appoint as Director of Education the
most suitable officer, be he a Cadet or an officer who has spent
his entire service in the department
•
Paragraph 5: To state that seniority has been the
To
sole qualification for the posts of Inspectors of English Schools
is incorrect. The senior of the two present Inspe ctors was not
the most senior master in the department at the time of his
appointment, and there is a master senior to the present second Inspector. Seniority is one of the factors to be taken into
account when considering competing claims for promotion. fill these appointments from England would be expensive and in Government's opinion, to appoint a man from England with no experience or understanding of the peculiar and particular
problems of Hong Kong would hardly be likely to prove a success.
The strictures on the masters contained in the last sentence
are unjustified.
Paragraph 6. The greater part of the time of the Inspectors is taken up with visiting schools and the Government accepts the view of the Director of Education that the work of Inspection requires two officers. The appointment of a further
officer as a Secretary is not at present necessary.
Paragraph 7. A good suggestion but unfortunately not one which it will be possible to a dopt in the immediate future. Paragraph 8. This had already been acted upon before
the Report of the Retrenchment Commission was received, though
the existing rights of sterling salaried officers cannot be
diminished.
Paragraph 9. The question of raising the fees at
Government secondary schools is being considered by the
Director